ELEPHANTS-AFRICAN AND ASIATIC COMPARED 



generally be traced to the sportsman having used a light 

 rifle when a heavier weapon should have been employed. 



And now to relate some of my own experiences with 

 elephants in Somaliland. Before doing so, however, it is 

 necessary to give a description of this animal, since he 

 differs so materially from what may be called the ordinary 

 type of elephant, viz., those that inhabit India or 

 Ceylon. 



The African elephant is distinguishable from the Asiatic 

 species, firstly, by the remarkable size and expanse of the 

 ears which, when thrown back, completely cover the 

 shoulders ; secondly, the presence of well-developed tusks 

 in both male and female alike ; thirdly, the formation of 

 the head — the forehead being convex uistead of concave ; 

 fourthly, the hollow back — the back of the Indian elephant 

 being convex and the shoulder considerably lower. 



The African elephant is also vastly superior in size and 

 possesses greater speed than the Asiatic variety, the tusks 

 vary in size and weight according to the locality in which 

 the animal is found. 



In Abyssinia and Somaliland, for example, the tusks 

 are much smaller than those found in the centre of the 

 continent. It is seldom that a pair of tusks are alike, for 

 as a man uses the right hand in preference to the left, so 

 the elephant, by using one tusk more than the other, it 

 becomes naturally more worn. The tusks arc solid only 

 for a portion of their length — being hollow throughout 

 the imbedded portion. 



The elephant feeds on creepers, aloes, and the succulent 

 roots of the mimosa and other trees. He is a wasteful 

 feeder, tearing down branches, hnlf of which ho leaves 

 untouched. 



A herd usually consists of from thirty to lilty intliviiluaK. 

 though once, in the Haruwu Valley, I saw one of omt 

 one hundred. 



Although possessing very bad sight, the elephant has an 

 exquisite sense of smell. He can wind an enemy at a 

 considerable distance, provided the breeze is favourable. 



I have encountered elephants, both from horseback an<i 

 on foot, and consider them the most dangerous of all 

 A frifaii game. They are exceedingly savage when wounded 



181 



